Countdown

7 days to go ....

Art: "Above the CLouds" by black-soul-vampire

Passsion and Purpose

Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.

David Lloyd George

Art: "Leap" by Scherbius

Countdown

14 days to go ...

Art: "Above the Clouds" by black-soul-vampire

Countdown

21 days to go ....

Art: "Above the Clouds" by black-soul-vampire

Passsion and Purpose

I dream, therefore I become.

Cheryl Renee Grossman

Art: "Pearl's Ride" by Carole Felmy

Countdown

28 days to go

Art: "Above the Clouds" by black-soul-vampire

Photo Challenge - Aging

Dream On

What I dream of is an art of balance.

Henri Matisse

Art: "Portrait of Lydia Delectorskaya, the Artist's Secretary" by Henri Matisse

Little Conversations, Big Opportunities

I was having one of my little chats today with someone who rang in about being a "wanna be" writer when he announces that his wife is a multi-published author and he himself is a technical writer with a passion for helping other follow the writing dream.

He has given me a heap of advice and encouragement in stepping up from leaving it as just a dream into making it a reality.

Is it just a small world or am I putting all the right vibes out there .... first stumbling across the uni course and now this .....



Photo: "The Author" by kynobau

Real Heroes

It is interesting to watch how different people are reacting to the tragedies befalling Australia at the moment.

Some people who clearly don't meet the guidelines are applying for financial assistance. That doesn't worry me, I just think of them as the "av-a-go" breed, and there is nothing wrong with that. Mind you, when they get angry when we say no, that is another story.

And then there are the quiet lot that are my new heroes.

There was the gentleman affected by the floods who was philosophical about sewerage contamination ("don't worry about that I have cleaned it up") but needed a hand to repair other parts of his house. He was very clear he was only taking this as a loan and, although he wasn't sure how, he was going to give all the money back. It took a good five minutes of reassurance that while he was more than welcome to repay or return any of the money, he was entitled to the help and we didn't expect anything back. You could see the glow over the phone as he realised that he really could keep the money and that the help was genuine.

There was the elderly woman who just needed to talk - about her mother, and her kids and ... well just about anything really. She didn't want a social worker, she just wanted to chat. After being evacuated from her home 3 times in the last two weeks as the fires continue to rage, she wanted something "normal" and at that specific moment, it was chatting with me. I put aside all concerns about timing and joined in with "just chatting".

And then there was the guy who rang asking if we could perhaps help him - he had seen things people aren't meant to see and realised he needed to talk to a counsellor. This was an Aussie bloke who obviously wasn't used to asking for help, or talking about things like "feelings" but he acknowledged that he wasn't sleeping to well and was really going through a rough patch. Hearing just a general outline of his experience made me wonder why he wasn't in the fetal position sucking his thumb.

These are the real people who have really been hit by either the fires or the floods. These are the people that are my heroes for their tenacity, their dignity, their honesty, their integrity, their ability to risk being "real".

Photo: "some help" by Ronaaa

Photo Challenge - Updates

I am personally really enjoying the list of ideas for this year - thanks again xoxo and A'Jay for putting them forward. Okay some weeks are easier than others but isn't that half the fun of the game lol

So ...

This Friday: Aging

Friday 13 March: Mineral

Friday 20 March: Smile

Mirror, Mirror

Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.

Judy Garland

Photo: "A Reflection of Innocence" by gilad

Parsley Seed Head ... After the Rain

Click and enlarge :-)

Rule for Life

Practicing the Golden Rule is not a sacrifice; it is an investment.

Anonymous

Art: "Who Is She?" by Sugarock99

Passsion and Purpose

We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are.

Tobias Wolff

Photo: "Resilience" by zoro-swordsman

Snack Attack

I seem to have been working a lot lately and have had no time to really cook (or shop) for home. And I am so tired of eating take-away.

My solution: blue cheese, grapes, nashi, beetroot and feta dip and corn crispibites for dipping purposes. Unfortunately it cost twice what takeaway does but it was worth it just for the luxury and the change :-)

Now THAT is real food :-)

We Alone

We alone can devalue gold

by not caring

if it falls or rises in the marketplace.

Wherever there is gold

there is a chain, you know,

and if your chain

is gold

so much the worse

for you.

Feathers, shells

and seas-shaped stones

are all as rare.

This could be our revolution:

To love what is plentiful

as much

as what is scarce.

Alice Walker

Photo taken using Miss Kylie's shells :-)